Mothers Who Know

Happy (late) Mothers Day to all the mothers out there! I am so blessed to not only have an amazing mother who is one of my best friends and who has taught me so much about life, the gospel, family, love, motherhood...etc. etc. etc. (and who inspired me to want to be an amazing mother), but to also have an amazing mother-in-law who I get along with so well, who has taught me so many things about motherhood and service and love. Not to mention my two beautiful grandmas who I look up to so much - I am blessed to be able to live with my Grandma Glenn right now, and I love being with her and laughing with her and learning about her life. My Grandma Gibbons is amazing and just keeps on going and going, despite her age - writing her autobiography, serving in the Church, and being the amazing matriarch of a family of now over sixty people! What amazing women these are. I'm so grateful for Mothers Day when we can celebrate motherhood - which sadly seems to be more and more overlooked and looked down on in this world, but if you ask me it is the best job in the world! I'm so grateful for my sweet little buddy boy who made me a mother.

I am so grateful for "mothers who know" and I am striving to be that type of mother myself. I truly believe that "there is eternal influence and power in motherhood." This talk by President Julie B. Beck is so inspiring and empowering to me as a mother. This is really one of my favorite conference talks of all-time, it is truly inspired and I think all mothers should go read or re-read it, it is wonderful!

"Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord’s kingdom for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power.

"Who will prepare this righteous generation of sons and daughters? Latter-day Saint women will do this—women who know and love the Lord and bear testimony of Him, women who are strong and immovable and who do not give up during difficult and discouraging times. We are led by an inspired prophet of God who has called upon the women of the Church to “stand strong and immovable for that which is correct and proper under the plan of the Lord.” He has asked us to “begin in [our] own homes” to teach children the ways of truth. Latter-day Saint women should be the very best in the world at upholding, nurturing, and protecting families. I have every confidence that our women will do this and will come to be known as mothers who “knew” (Alma 56:48)."

My Mama & I

My awesome mother-in-law

My sweet Grandma Gibbons

My Grandma Glenn & I

Me & the handsome guy who made me a mother!

Homemade :)

Our New Toy

This morning we got a new toy in the mail...our new Canon Rebel SLR camera!! We are SO excited! I have been interested in photography for awhile now, and I just take so many pictures (especially of the little man) that I thought I should just get a more professional camera and actually learn about photography. So I've been saving up for a little while for this camera. So earlier this week Jonathan said let's get it now, so it will be here by Mother's Day. I was so excited! We ordered it from Amazon.com a couple of days ago, and it got here this morning. We definitely have a ways to go before we really know what we're doing, but we have already had so much fun playing around with it and figuring out how to use it! I also need to learn more about photo editing. I'm so excited :) Here are some of our first shots that we took today (can this kid get any cuter? seriously):

So happy for Cheryl and Dave!

I just am so excited that I had to post and congratulate my best buddy Cheryl on the new addition to the Athay family! Amelia Claire Athay was born on Tuesday, May 5 at 10:43 am. She was 7 lb 7 oz and 20 inches long. I haven't seen pictures yet, but I talked to Cheryl and both she and baby are doing great. Her husband Dave is in the Navy and is away for six months, and I so wish I lived closer to Virginia so I could hang out with Cheryl and Amelia! Anyway, we're so happy for you, Cheryl! Love you!

And, for your viewing pleasure, a couple of classic Jen and Cher pictures from high school.

Wheeler Farm

Today we went to Wheeler Farm. James wasn't sure about all the animals, but quite enjoyed chasing the ducks and the geese and "quacking" at them. What a beautiful, sunny day!

Puddle Splashing

This weekend Jonathan's family came into town for the wedding of one of Jonathan's cousins. It was so fun to see the family! James had the most fun stomping through puddles outside during the wedding luncheon. Good thing Uncle Benjamin was there to get it all on camera!

Ahhh, now that's more like it

Ok I cannot just leave that last video on my blog without posting a video of an amazing, classical pianist - just for some contrast! This is Martha Argerich (amazing!!) playing one of my FAVORITE pieces (which I played at my sophomore recital), Jeux d'Eau by Ravel. Hope you enjoy!

Surprisingly, a really cool video!

Today I found a really cool video on YouTube. I have to preface this by saying that I am not a Jon Schmidt fan. Yes, I am a pianist, and I love music, and I realize that a lot of people really like him and his style. But, I really don't see what is so great about his music. Being a classical pianist, I can't really compare his music to, say, Schumann or Chopin or Bach. It just, hands down, does not compare at all (sorry to all who are fans!). I remember always hearing his song Waterfall being played in the practice rooms at BYU and it driving me crazy, or hearing people play his songs and having everything think it was amazing. I am not trying to sound snobby here, just trying to be honest! (However, I will say that his songs have tons of energy, they are fun and he seems like a fun performer!)

ANYWAY...having said all that, I found a video on YouTube today of one of his songs (well, arrangments), and it was really neat! I was honestly surprised. I thought it was such a cool (and random) combination of songs ("Love Story" by Taylor Swift and "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay - which just happens to be James' favorite song, so he enjoyed it, too!). It's a piano/cello arrangment (with a few drums/keyboards/voices/whatever thrown in) and it is just so fun (by the way, I think the cello is amazing, I totally want to get one and learn it someday!). So, I just had to share. I know, crazy, I am sharing a Jon Schmidt video on my blog. Well, just go see for yourself, it is pretty fun (as long as you ignore his technique and his really flat fingers at points - man that just makes me CRINGE and my fingers hurt!!) Anyway...enjoy!

Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters!

some photos.

I just got some pictures from my amazing brother-in-law, Benjamin, who took a bunch of photos for us the day of Liz's missionary farewell. I had to share them, because 1.) they are AMAZING photos - isn't Benjamin talented?? 2.) my family is just so great 3.) James is adorable and we can't have too many cute pictures of him, and 4.) I am just so excited to get the camera I am saving up for, and I hope I can take pretty pictures like these!!

Enjoy!